bkbakgibbs' Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Apr 30 2011

bkbakgibbs

Photos 24
Triplogs 2

63 female

Joined Mar 10 2011
Tempe, AZ

Phoneline Trail #27

Tucson, AZ

Phoneline Trail #27

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Apr 30 2011
		bkbakgibbs • Triplogs 2

Hiking	4.50 Miles	600 AEG

Hiking	4.50 Miles
	600 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

My husband and I enjoyed this trail. We opted to take the tram in and got off at stop 8. There is a beautiful rock formation over which Sabino Creek flows over. Water flow was fairly low but the water pool was still plenty large enough for swimming. We walked up the road to stop 9 and then took the switchbacks up to the Phone Line trail. Prickly Pear was in full bloom along with Ocotillo and Saguaro. It's a nice trail and saw quite a few people in each direction. We were lucky in that the high was around 85 with a steady breeze. We opted to take the switchbacks down to tram stop 1 and we enjoyed being along the creek for a while before taking the tram back to the parking lot. There are lots of morning walkers along the tram route. Elevation gain is almost nothing except for the switchbacks up to the trail and down to the creek towards the end. We aren't concerned about heights but for someone who is, it might be considered a bit of a drop off as you hug the mountain the whole way.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Desert Grassland Whiptail

Wildflowers Observation Light

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Mar 14 2011

bkbakgibbs

Photos 24
Triplogs 2

63 female

Joined Mar 10 2011
Tempe, AZ

Barks Lower Canyon Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Barks Lower Canyon Loop

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 14 2011
		bkbakgibbs • Triplogs 2

Hiking	4.00 Miles	900 AEG

Hiking	4.00 Miles	6 Hrs	0.67 mph
	900 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

Our group of 6, ages 74, 72, 49, 23, 20 and 16 took this hike off trail loop. We take our time as we examine flora and fauna and enjoy. We don't believe that the time and difficulty are appropriately listed. If you are a young, nimble mountain goat and don't look at anything along the way you might

be able to make it in the 3 hour time frame listed. Cardiac hill up Bluff Spring Trail was a breeze and offered great views. The first part of Bark's Canyon is very pretty and enjoyable with several areas of smooth rock areas with pools. Unless you are a mountain goat, don't go much further as it requires nothing but boulder hopping on large boulders. The youngsters went into the cave/prospecting tunnel. We saw many animal prints including deer in the sand around the pools. A slight amount of water was running and it was so cool to see the water cascading over rocks and get swallowed up by the sand only to reappear 50 feet later. We saw cotton tail rabbits, lots of Phainopeplas, a red-tailed hawk, a juvenile Sonoran Desert Toad and a scorpion.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Arizona Bark Scorpion

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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